Tailpiece for banjos and the like



A. D. GROVER. TAILPIECE FOR BANJOS ANDiT-HE-UKE.

APPLICATION FILED m4. 7, ma.

1,350,310. Patented Aug. 24, 1920.

F'Tg l- INVEN -r CIR- JZbcri 17. Glrouew:

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

TAILPIECE FOB BANJOS AND THE LIKE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 24, 1920.

Application filed January 7, 191a. Serial No. 210,756.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALBERT D. Gnovnn, a citizen of the United States,and resident of New York, county of New York, and State of New York,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Tailpieces forianjos and the like, of which the following is a specification.

The object of my invention is to provide a new and improved tailpiecefor string instruments, such as the banjo and the like. As those skilledin the art know, there are several. kinds or styles of banjos in usetoday. The most common of these instruments are provided, respectively,with four, five, six and eight strings. I'leretofore, a separatetailpiece was necessary with each kind of banjo. The tailpiece of myinvention is readily adaptable for all of the differentkinds of banjosor allied instruments, being adapted to receive from four to eightstrings, and more if required. The stringattaching device of my banjoreceives knotted strings as well as looped strings, either kind beingattachable as readily and securely as the other, and as readilyremovable.

Another feature of my invention is a hinged cover which serves not onlyto cover up the looped or knotted ends of the strings, but also servesas a means for placing pressure on the bridge of the instrument, wherebythe bridge is held down firmly on the head.

A further feature of my new tailpiece consists in the provision of pinswhich are so arranged as to relieve the strain on the knotted. ends ofthe strings.

The foregoing and other features and advantages of my invention willbecome apparent from a description of the accompanying drawings whichillustrate a preferred embodiment of my invention.

In these drawings- Figure 1 is a top plan view of the rear section of abanjo provided with my new tailpiece, the cover of the tailpiece beingpartly broken away to show certain parts beneath, this View illustratinghow the looped strings are attached to the tailpiece;

Fig. 2 is a section on line 2-2 of Fig. 1, looking in the direction ofthe arrows;

Fig. 3 is a rear View of my new tailpiece; and

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 1, with the cover turned back, thisview illustrating how knotted strings are attached to thestring-receiving device of the tailpiece.

To the rim 1 of a musical instrument like thebanjo, or of the banjotype, is secured the usual screw 2 which passes into the stick 3 of theinstrument. The headed screw 2 carries a bolt 3 to which my newtailpiece is .connected, as will presentlybe explained.

My new tailpiece comprises a base-plate which I have indicated as awhole by B. This base-plate, which is preferably made of metal, consistsof a main section 4, a turned down section 5, and a rear extension 6.The main section 4 of the base-plate is adapted to lie over and close tothe head 7 of the instrument, as shown in Fig. 2. The turned downsection 5 is practically at right angles to the main section 4 and liesagainst the hoop 8 of the instrument. The rear extension 6 is providedwith an opening through which projects the headed end of the bolt 3. Thetailpiece is, therefore, pivotally connected with the bolt 3.

The base-plate B is provided with a string-receiving member 9,-which isrigidly secured in place by any suitable means, such as the rivets 10 orthe like. By forming the string-receiving member 9 with a turneddownportion 11, which lies against the turned-down portion 5 of thebase-plate B, the latter is strengthened or reinforced at the angleconnecting the sections 4 and 5. The member 9 is at its front endprovided with a series of upturned lugs 12 adapted to receive the endsof the strings. The lugs 12 are slightly spaced from each other, asshown in Figs. 1 and 4. These spaces are narrower than the width of theknotted end of the smallest string to be used on the instrument, so thatthe knotted end of the string may be placed in the required space andfirmly held therein, as indicated in Fig. 4. Figs. 1 and 2 show howlooped strings are attached to the lugs 12. To prevent the accidentaldetachment of the looped and knotted strings, the lugs 12 arehook-shaped, as best shown in Fig. 2.

It will be clear from the foregoing that my new tailpiece receiveslooped strings and knotted strings equally well. In instruments of thebanjo or mandolin type, or a combination of both, the wire strings arelooped, as shown in Fig. 1, while the gutstrings and silk-strin s areknotted, as indicated in Fig. 4. y new tailpiece may,

therefore, be used equally well on'either type of instrument. Although Ihave shown in the drawings eight string-receiving lugs 12, having sevenstring-receiving spaces between them, the number of lugs may be lessthan eight or more than eight. My reason for showing eight lugs is, thatat the present time I prefer a tailpiece with that number of lugs, sothat the tailpiece may be used on instruments requiring four, five, sixor eight strings.

The string-receiving lugs 12 are preferably formed on a separate member9 which is rigidly secured to the base-plate B, but if desired, theselugs could be rigidly provided thereon in any other suitable manner. Iprefer to use the angular piece 9 because, as

above stated, it reinforces the tailpiece at the.

angle formed between the sections 4; and 5 of the base-plate.

In order to relieve or lessen the strain on the knotted ends of thestrings held in the spaces between the lugs 12, I provide a plurality ofpins 13, arranged approximately as in Figs. 1 and 4:. It will be seenfrom these figures that the strings pass around the first row of pinsand then are turned later ally to engage the second row of pins, so thatthe strain on the knotted ends is greately relieved. When I say that thestrings are turned laterally in passing fromthe'iirst to the second rowof pins, and from there to the bridge, I mean that they pass at. anangle to the longitudinal axis of the instrument. This axis may beconsidered to be repre sentedby the section line 2-2 of Fig. 1, or bythe central string a: in Fig. 4. There is no pin in engagement with thecentral string in Fig. 4, because that is a heavy string and does notrequire and interposed pin to lessen the strain on its knotted end. Inthe case of the looped wire strings, owing to their inherent strength,the strain-relieving pins 13 are not really essential, that is why inFig. 1 some of the strings are not shown as passed around the pins 13.

The tailpiece is provided with a cover indicated as a whole by C. Thiscover is pivot-ally connected to the base-plate B in any suitablemanner. The section 4 of the base-plate I3 is provided with upturnedside flanges 14, on which rests the cover C when closed. As best shownin Fig. 2, the side 7 flanges 14lfollow the configuration of the cover,so that they form in effect the sides of a flat box. In Fig. 2, theforward end of the flange M is indicated at 14. The cover C is providedwith a pair of downturned ears 15. The flanges 14 are at their rear endsprovided with a pair of openingsv in alinement with the openings in theears or lugs 15., and through these alined openings passes the pivot rod16. I provide adjustable means for locking the cover in place. In thebroad aspect of my invention, this adjustable cover-locking means mayassume various forms. In the drawings I have shown, for the sake ofillustration, a locking means consisting of a clamp 17 provided at itsends with upturned extensions 18, adapted to overlie the sides of thecover, as clearly shown in Fig. l. The clamp 17 is slidably mounted onthe base-plate B by any suitable means, such as the headed guide pin 19secured to the clamp and passing through the slot 20 of the base-plate.The cover 0 is provided at its sides with a pair of notches 21, as shownin F igs. 1 and 4. When the clamp 17 is moved from the position shown inFig. 1 to the position shown in Fig. 4l that is to say, from the frontend of the slot 20 to the rear end-the upturned ends 18 of the clamp 17come into alinement with the notches 21 of the cover, so that the latteris free to be turned back on the hinge 16, as shown in Fig. 4.

Other cover-securing means may be pro-- vided-such as a threaded boltwhich would pass through the cover plate into a screwthreaded opening inthe base-plate B, and which could be adjusted in the opening or removedaltogether. However, I prefer to use a device like the clamp 17 whichismounted on the base-plate and cannot be removed therefrom, so that thereis no danger of losing it.

The cover C is not only used for covering up the knotted and looped endsof the strings attached to the tailpiece, but also serves as a means forplacing the strings under pressure near the bridge of the instrument,whereby the bridge is firmly pressed down on the head. For this purpose, the cover C extends forwardly to within a short distance of thebridge 22 of the instrument. Preferably, the forward end of the cover isslightly rounded or turned up, as indicated at 23. i f

The adjustability of the clamp 17. serves not only to release the cover,but also to adjust the position of the stringeng end 23 of the cover. Ifthe clamp is shiftedtoward the right (as viewed in Figs. 1 and 2), theforward end 23 oi? the cover will be slightly elevated under the tensionof the strings. The cover C is preferably made of a suitable material,such as sheet metal, which will yield at thetree end of the cover undersuilicient pressure. As a matter of fact, the entire tailpiece risesslightly from the rear portion toward the front portion when in actualuse. I have not attempted to indicate this exact position in F ig. 2,where the basesplate B is shown approximately parallel with the headi.

In order that the, tailpiece may be adjusted and held .in true centralposition, I provide adjusting means, such as the screws 24 which passthrough the double thickness of the turned-down sections 11 and 5 of themember 9 and base-plate B, and which bear against the hoop 8 of theinstrument. By means of these two screws, the tailpiece may be soadjusted about the pivot screw 3, that it will be in true centralposition to insure the proper spacing of the strings on thefinger-board.

It will be clear from the foregoing that I have provided a tailpiece ofsimple construction, which is equally well adapted to receive loopedstrings and knotted strings, and which is capable of being used onbanjos of a varying number of strings. In my new tailpiece, the stringsare quickly at tached and quickly removed. The coverplate C hides themess of knotted or looped strings and prevents the sharp ends of wirestrings from tearin the clothes of the player. The cover Z may be madeof ornamental metal, so as to make the entire tailpiece not only a meremechanical device for attaching strings, but serve as an ornament aswell.

Although I have shown in the drawings a specific form of tailpiece, Iwould have it understood that I do not intend to be limited to thedetails herein set forth, as 0bviously it is possible to make changesand modifications without departing from the invention as defined in theappended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent of the United States, is:

1. A banjo, or the like, provided with a tailpiece comprising abase-plate secured to the rim of the instrument and extending over thehead toward the bridge, a plurality of slightly spaced lugs projectingupwardly from said base-plate and constructed to receive the looped endsof wire strings, the spaces between. the lugs being of less width thanthe knotted end of a gut-string or silkstring, and a plurality of fixedpins extending upwardly from said base-plate and arranged in two rows insuch a way that the strings pass at an angle to the longitudinal axis ofthe instrument from the first row of pins to the second row of pins andfrom there over the bridge, whereby said pins serve to relieve thestrain on the ends of the strings.

2. A banjo, or the like, provided with a tailpiece comprising abase-plate secured to the rim oi the banjo and extending over the headtoward the bridge, a member secured to said base-plate, a series ofeight lugs projecting upwardly from said member and slightly spaced fromeach other, the ends of the strings being attached to said slightlyspaced lugs, the spaces between said lugs being of less width than theknotted end of a banjo string, and two rows of four pins each extendingupwardly from said baseplate between said lugs and the bridge of theinstrument, said two rows of pins being so arranged that the stringspass around said pins at an angle to the longitudinal axis of theinstrument in passing from the lugs to the bridge, whereby said pinsserve to relieve the strain on the ends of the strings.

A banjo, or the like, provided with a tailpiece comprising a base-platesecured to the rim of the banjo and extending over the head toward thebridge, means on said base plate for attaching the ends of the strings,a cover inovably connected with said baseplate and extending over thesame toward the bridge to within a short distance thereof, the forwardend of said cover bearing down on the strings and exerting pressurethereon as they pass from under the cover over the bridge, and means forholding said cover in closed position, said means being adjustable torelease said cover.

4. A banjo, or the like, provided with a tailpiece comprising abase-plate secured to the Illl'l of the banjo and extending over thehead toward the bridge, means on said baseplate for attaching the endsof the strings, a cover movably mounted on said base-plate and extendingover the same toward the bridge to within a short distance thereof, theforward end of said cover bearing down on the strings and exertingpressure thereon as they pass from under the cover over the bridge, anda clamping device on said baseplate to hold said. cover in closedposition, said device being readily adjusted to release said cover.

5. A banjo, or the like, provided with a tailpiece comprising abase-plate secured to the rim of the banjo and extending over the headtoward the bridge of the instrument, means on said base-plate forattaching the ends of the strings, a cover hinged to the rear of saidbaseplate and extending forwardly over the same toward the bridge, theforward end of said cover bearing down on the strings and exertingpressure thereon as they pass from under the cover over the bridge, andmeans for holding said cover in closed position, said means beingadjustable to release the cover and allow it to be thrown back on itshinge, the position of said adjustable cover-holding means also varyingthe pressure of the forward end of said cover on the strings.

6. A banjo, or the like, provided with a tailpiece comprising abase-plate secured to the rim of the banjo and extending over the headtoward the bridge, means on said baseplate for attaching the ends of thestrings, and a cover adjustably mounted on said baseplate to cover theends of the strings and to engage the strings at points on a line nearthe bridge to hold them close to the head.

7. A banjo, or the like, provided with tailpiece comprising a base-platesecured to the rim of the banjo and extending over the head toward thebridge, a plurality of slightly spaced lugs projecting upwardly fromsaid base-plate to which lugs the ends of the strings are attached, thespaces be tween. the lugs being of less width than the knotted end of abanjo string, a plurality of fixed pins extending upwardly from saidbase-plate and so arranged. that the strings pass from said lugs tosaid. pins and from there to the bridge at an angle to the longitudinal.axis of the instrument, whereby said pins serve to relieve the strain onthe ends of the strings, a cover hinged at its rear end to saidbase-plate and extending over said lugs and pins, and adjustable meansfor holding said cover in place.

8. As a new article of manufacture, a

tailpiece for banjos, or the like, comprising a base-plate having a mainsection adapted to extend closely over the head of the instrument whenthe tailpiece is secured in position, said base-plate also having ashort section approximately at right angles to the main section andadapted to be connected with the usual bolt or screw 011 the rim of theinstrument, lugs carried by the main section of said base-plate forreceiving and holding the ends of strings, a cover adjustahly mounted onand extending over the main section of said base-plate, and meansmounted on said base-plate for holding said cover in closed position,said means being adjustable to release the cover.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 5th day ofJanuary, 1918.

ALBERT D. GROVER.

